Snowplow and means for coupling the same to pusher trucks



Feb. 2, 1954 THE SAME TO PUSHER TRUCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl'ed Aug. 25. 1950 In ventor m m um v m af, m .WV \h. o il Ma r Q vz. w. `Q\ h om\^&wn 4\\, v R Y .l w

Feb. 2, 1954 F. H. GJEsDAHL 2,667,708 SNOWPLOW AND MEANS FOR COUPLING THE SAME TO PUSHER TRUCKS Filed Aug. 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2, 1954 F. H. GJESDAHL sNowPLow AND MEANS EOE coUPLIN THE SAME To PusHEE TRUCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 25. 1950 Frederick H- G/esda/ Feb, 2, 1954 F H. GJESDAHI. 2,667,708

SNOWPLOW'AND MEANS FOR COUPLING THE SAME To PUSHER TRUCKS Filed Aug. 25, 1950 Inventor Frederick H. G/sdahl B, zmao.

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Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES MENT omer Frederick H. Grj'esdahl,` Crookston, Application Angustias, 1950seria-'r No. 1181,44@

4' Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in snow plows, and to means for coupling the same to an automotive truck for pushing thereby.

The primary object of my invention is toA provide for coupling a grounded snow plow to an'automotive pusher truck by forward travel of the truck relative to the grounded snow plow, and uncoupling the snow plow from said truck` by backing of the truck relative to the snow plow, all without the driver of the truck leaving his seat in the truck cab.

The foregoing and ancillary objects are at'- tained by the means set forth in the following description, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and delined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary View in side elevation of my invention in the preferred embodiment thereof and illustrating the snow plow grounded and the pusher truck positioned for forward driving relative thereto for coupling the snow plow to the truck;

Figure 2 is a View in plan of the same;

Figure 3 is a View in longitudinal vertical section taken on the line @-3 of Figure 1 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 4 is a-fragmentary View in side 'elevation illustrating the snow plow coupled to the pusher truck;

Figure 5 is a view in plan of the same;

Figure 6 is a View in longitudinal vertical sec'- tion taken on the line G- of Figure 5 and-drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in frontv end elevation of the chassis frame of the pusher truck,A the hanger brackets on the front end of' the chassis frame and parts associated therewith, and the power lift cylinder, piston rod and lift lever at the front end of the chassis frame ;v

Figure 8 is a View in vertical transverse section taken o n the line 8 3 of Figure 3; v

Figure 9 is a View in vertical section taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 7 and drawn to alarger scale;

Figure 10 is a detail View in horizontal section taken on the line l-ii of Figure' l; andv y Figure 1l is a fragmentary view invertic'al lon-l gitudinal section taken on the s'arne line of'Fig-ure 5 as Figure 6 and drawn to a larger scale with the power lift means supporting the front end of the snow plow in lifted position.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, accordin'g to my invention, a snow plow I is provided comprising a inoldboard- 2 supportedy in' upright position by andi suitably -xed atits' lower longi- 2 tudfnal edgeA on the frontends offa pairof o ppositehorizontallside` pusher vbars 3 across which saidmoldboard- 2Y extends diagonally, as is usual. A fender' platee` is suitably xed on the foremost end" of the mold4 board 2Q and a cross' tie rod 5 connects said pusherba'rs 3 together immediately behind said'mol'dboard 2. The side pusher bars 3' are spaced apart so that when the same are resting on the ground to ground' the Isnow plow, as when said snow plow is not in'use; the conventional automotive truck" 6 may be driven for- Waldly' Ovr Said plisl E? bars 3 with' th fIOll',

wheels? of said truckl straddlihg the'pusher bars s'of'the'pairg v v ll/leans ar'e'pr'ovided on the truck I in the rear of the from wheels 1, and also means on the pusher' bars 3' adjacent' the reare'nds thereof coacti'ng' topick-'uoy the rear'ends'of said pusher bars oi the ground and couple the'same' tos'aid truck i1Y in suspendedv position when said' truck` 6 is' driven forwardly, as'l above' described. These means will now'bedescribed-inthe' order named. pair of opposite' hanger bracket plates 'are bolted, as'A at'l", to'opposite" sides'of the' chassis frame' I6 of the' pusher' truck 6" to depend therefrom at` a suitable location in'the rear of the fronty wheels' 1, andv whichja'r'e spaced apart further' than therear ends of said pusl'ierv bars''to accomrno'dateI s'aid ends; therebetween. The h-anger'vbra'cket plates- 8- are' each formed witha lower front edge' Vn"`o tch* II' opening forwardly andA having a semcircular apex socket E21' therein. lAjpair'of pick-upbars'- I3 with `front beveled edges lfarepiveted; as at i5 t-'ch'uter sides 0f' the' hanger bracketr platesf B'below' and forwardly of the"sd`ockets I2 lfor verticalfswinging movement and toeXtendforwa-rdlyff saidplates.l The pick-up barsA l 3f areY swingable in unisoniinto 'downwardly and forwardly inclinedpositions with their beveledfedgesI M riding'on the" ground and by means of a p'air ofc'ranks- I6 at the' outer' sides ofthe hanger 'bracket lplates' 8i fast' on opposite' ends' of a rock shaft* ITI' journaled' in'said platesv 8- above the'no'tches II andconnec'ted by pivoted links' l 9 to re'ar 'endsV` of said pick-upA liars l'3i A handflever' 20'pivoted, as' atV ZI, on one'sid'el of'the'chas'ss'frame lili within" easy' reach ofa driver in the truck cab'22'isco`nnected by'a pivo'ted link 23 tonne crank I ffor rockingsaid rock`- shaft Il to `rswing saidpick-up'bars I3 into the described"pick-upfpositionthereof.A As will be apparent,.the pick-up bars I 3 are spaced apart tostraddle the' pairof pusher barsi3, and to fa'- cilitat'e forwardA movement of said bars I Sinto straddling relation to the rear ends of said pusher' bars 3; the front"- ends` of said pick-up" bars I3 slant outwardly, laterally, as best shown at 24 in Figures 2 and 5.

The means on the rear ends of the pusher bars 3 coacting with the means described in the immediately preceding paragraph comprises a cross pusher rod 25 connecting said pusher bars 3 adjacent said rear ends thereof with trunnion ends 2E extending outwardly of the sides of said pusher bars 3, and rear end cam portions 21 on said pusher bars 3 converging rearwardly, relatively, to facilitate movement of said endsV between the hanger bracket plates 8.

Means are provided on the front end of the pusher truck 3 coacting with front end means on the pusher bars 3 to couple said bars and the front end of the snow plow I, to the front end of said truck, all as described in the following.

suitably bolted, as at 28, in upright positions, at opposite sides of the chassis frame Iii, on a front end bar 29 of said cassis frame and eX- tending forwardly of said bar 28 is a pair of hanger brackets 36 provided with a lower, front edge V-notch 3i with an apex socket 32 similar to the sockets I2. Each hanger bracket 30 comprises a pair of spaced apart side plates 33 with vertical spacing bars 34 therebetween and connecting cross rods 35. A downwardly and forwardly inclined pick-up bar 36 extends out of each hanger bracket 33, from between the side plates 33, below the socket 32 with the upper edge of said pick-up bar parallel with the lower edges of the V-notch 3|, said pick-up bar 36 being secured in place by one of the cross rods 35. The pick-up bars 35 flare outwardly, relatively, from the hanger brackets 30 for a purpose presently apparent.

An upstanding latch dog 3l, for a purpose presently explained, is vertically slidable in a guideway 33 in each hanger bracket 33 and normally rests at its lower end on the pick-up bar 36 and in the V -notch 3l in front of the socket 32 and whereby said dog closes said socket and is held by the pick-up bar 35 in latching position. The lower end of the latch dog 3T is beveled, as at 39, for camming of said latch dog3l' upwardly, by means presently described, to open the socket 32 and move said dog into unlatching position. A hand lever B, on the before-mentioned pivot ZI is operatively connected to both latch dogs 31 for manually sliding said dogs upwardly into unlatching position and by means of a pivoted rod @il on said hand lever 4B pivoted, as at 42, to one end of a Y-shaped lever 43 fast on one end of a rock shaft 35 journaled transversely through the hanger brackets 33 and having aV V-shaped lever d fast on its other end. The levers 33, 45 underlie lateral studs i6 on the latch dogs 3'! working in vertical slots 41 in said hanger brackets 33. By swinging the hand lever d rearwardly from the position shown in the drawings, the rock shaft is is rocked in one direction to swing said levers A3, d5 clockwise, as shown in the drawings, to lift the latch dogs 3'I above the sockets 32 and into unlatching socket opening position. The weight of the latch dogs 31 overbalances the described operating connections therefor whereby said dogs normally gravitate into latching, socket closing position and in this position of said dogs 31 a stop arm 48 on said lever d3 engages the frame bar 29 and establishes the normal position of the operating connections.

The means on the front end of the pusher d bars 3 with which the described means on the front end of the truck 5 coacts comprises a pair of side plates 55 suitably fixed to and rising from said bars 3 immediately in the rear of the moldboard 2, and from which brace bars 5i extend forwardly to said moldboard. A transverse pickup and pusher shaft 52 is carried by said plates 50 in upwardly and rearwardly inclined slots 53 in said plates and normally gravitate to the lower ends of said slots 53 in which position it is above the lower ends of the pick-up bars 36, that is if the plow I is grounded and together with the truck 6 is on substantially level ground. Collars 511 on said shaft 52 engaging said plates 53 prevent end play of said shaft 52 in the inclined slots 53. The plates 50 are spaced apart to enter between the pick-up bars 35 and between the hanger brackets 3@ and the ends of said shaft 32 extend outwardly of said plates 53 for engagement by the pick-up bars 30.

Referring now to the operation of my invention, as so far described, To pick-up and couple plow I to the pusher truck I5, the hand lever I0 is swung .into the full line position shown in the drawings to swing the pick-up bars I3 into downwardly and forwardly inclined pick-up position with the beveled edges iii thereof riding the ground. The pusher truck is then driven forwardly over the pusher bars 30, as shown in Figure 1, until said pick-up bars I3 engage the trunnion ends 23 of the cross pusher rod 25, pick-up said trunnion ends and cam the same upwardly to pass through the V-notches H into the sockets i2 whereby to couple the rear ends of said bars 3, and hence the rear end of the snow plow I, to said truck 3 in suspended position on the hanger bracket plates 8. As the trunnion ends 25 enter the sockets I2, said ends are positioned rearwardly of the pivots I5 of the pickup bars I3 and by engagement with said bars I3 swing the same upwardly out of ground engaging position into substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figure 4, such swinging of said bars I3 rocking the cranks i6 to rock the shaft I1 and hand lever 2i! and swing said lever into vthe normal position shown in Figure 4.

Simultaneously with picking up and coupling of the rear ends of the pusher bars 3, and hence the rear end of the snow plow I, to the hanger bracket plates 8, as described in the preceding paragraph, the pick-up bars 35 engage and pickup the ends of the pick-up and pusher shaft 52 causing the same to ride up said bars 3S through the v-notches 3l into the sockets 32, thus coupling the front ends of the pusher bars 3, and hence the front end of the snow plow I, to the front end of the chassis frame I0. Before the ends of the pick-up and pusher shaft 52 enter the sockets 32, said ends engage the beveled lower cam ends 33 of the latch dogs 3l and cam said dogs upwardly by wiping past the same, thereby moving said latch dogs into unlatching socket opening position to descend into latching socket closing position in front of said shaft 52 after the ends of said shaft have entered the sockets 32. During these operations of the latch dogs 3l, the levers d3, d5, rock shaft lill, rod di and hand lever i3 remain in normal position shown in full line in the drawings. As the pick-up and pusher shaft 52 is picked up, it rides upwardly and rearwardly in the slots 53 to the upper ends thereof without picking up the front end of the snow plow I. This idle movement of the pick-up andY pusher shaft Y52 serves a purpose presently seen. The snow plow I, when coupled as described mayV nacimos be pushed at its front andi rear ends by.r the hanger bracketplates working against the cross shaft 25, and by the hangerl brackets 3,0. working against the pick-upv and pusher shaftV 52.

To uncouple the snow plow I, the hand. lever I0 is swung from normal position to lift the latch dogs 3l into unlatching socket opening position, in the manner already described, and the pusher truck 5 is then backed relative to the snow plow I, whereupon the trunnion. ends of' the cross rod 25. will slide forwardly down the pick-upL bars I3 out of the sockets I2; and V-notches I-.I1, said bars I3 swinging downwardly'into groundv engaging position under the weightthereontoeasethe rear ends of the pusher bars 3. andi the rear-end of the snow plow I onto the; ground. At the same time, the pick-up and pusher shaft 52 will slide forwardly out of the sockets 32 and V- notches 3I down the pick-up bars 362 to ease the front end of the snow plow I onto the ground, if lifted off the ground. If the snow plow I is not lifted,v at its frontend, off ofthe ground,` the pick-up and pusher shaftI 52 will slide down the pick-up bars 36 idlyin the inclined slotsA 5 3'. If the hand lever'IlIl is then released, the latch dogs 31 will gravitate into normal latching andI socket closing posit-ion` and theoperating connections therefor will be movedbackinto normal'position therewithinv a manner-which willbe clear;

For lifting the frontY end of the snow plow- I, while coupled, as occasion may require, power lift means is provided as follows. A power lift cylinder 6e is mounted by a bracket plate 6I on the front chassis frame bar 29 in the center of and forwardly or" said bar with an upright piston rod 62 pivoted at its upper end, as at 63, to an intermediate portion of a forwardly extending lift lever 64 pivoted at its rear end, as at 65, on an arm 66 upstanding from and fixed on said front bar 29.

An inverted U-shaped lifting yoke IS7, between the plates 5I?, is pivoted at its sides, in upright position, as at 68, to upper and lower links 69 of parallel pairs pivoted, as at l0, to said plates 50, said links 69 supporting said yoke 67 for vertical swinging movement in a vertical position. Upper and lower stops II, I2 on each plate 50 engaged by the lower links S9 limit upward and downward swinging of said yoke 6l relative to the plates 50. When the snow plow I is coupled to the pusher truck 8 with the piston rod 62 in its downward limit of movement and the lift lever 54 correspondingly lowered, as shown in Figures l and 4 of the drawings, the lifting yoke 61 overlies the front end of the lift lever B4 for lifting by said lever 613 when the piston rod 62 and lifting lever 64 are moved upwardly, as by fluid pressure admitted to said cylinder B by any suitable means, not shown. In this connection, it is to be noted that the slots 53 are substantially concentric to the axis of the cross pusher rod 25 and the sockets i 2 so that plates 50 and the front end of the snow plow I are swingable upwardly, with the trunnion ends 26 of said rod 25 rotating in the sockets I2, when the snow plow is coupled as described. It is furthermore to be noted that if the piston rod 62 and lifting lever 64 are lowered to the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, as by evacuating pressure from said cylinder SII, by suitable means not shown, the lifting yoke B'I will gravitate downwardly against the coupling and pusher shaft 52, as best shown in Figure 6 and lock said shaft 52 in the upper ends of the slots 53 in a raised position in line with the notches 3U for a subsequent coupling operation.

6 In Figure. 11,. the position of thepower'l-ifit means is shown. in lifting the frontend of the. snow plow I off the ground, and as Shownin the figure, upward lifting of the front end. of the snow plowr t is limited by engagement of the piston rod; 52 with-- the rock shaft 44, as a safety provision.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sumce to im.- part'a. clear understanding of my invention, with:- out further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is sus,- ceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is hereinl resserved to such modifications asv fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having describedmy invention, what is claimedas new is: i

l-In combination, a moldboard snow plow in.` cluding a pair of laterally spaced pusher bars extending rearwardly from. moldboard andadapted to lie on4 the. ground when said plowv is notl in use, a pusher truck for said plow having. a chassisy frame and front side wheels and adapted to be driven forwardly alongV said pusher bars toward said moldboard. with said` wheels. straddling the bars of said pair, a transverse pusher rodV connecting said pusher bars adjacent the rear ends thereofand means on said chassis,- frame coacting with said rod during such forward drivingof said truck to pick-up and couple said rear ends of said pusher bars to onnosi'tel sides of said chassis frame in suspended position comprising a pair of hanger bracket plates depending from opposite sides of said chassis frame and having forwardly opening sockets therein, and a pair of pick-up bars pivoted on said plates for swinging into downwardly and forwardly extending kground engaging position to engage and lift said rod into position to enter said sockets.

2. In combination, a moldboard snow plow including a pair of laterally spaced pusher bars extending rearwardly from said moldboard and adapted to lie on the ground when said plow is not in use, a pusher truck for said plow having a chassis frame and front side wheels and adapted to be driven forwardly along said pusher bars toward said moldboard with said wheels straddling the bars of said pair, a transverse pusher rod connecting said pusher bars adjacent the rear ends thereof, and means on said chassis frame coacting with said rod during such forward driving of said truck to pick-up and couple said rear ends of said pusher bars to opposite sides of said chassis frame in suspended position comprising a pair of hanger bracket plates depending from opposite sides of said chassis frame and having forwardly opening sockets therein, a pair of pick-up bars pivoted on said plates for swinging into downwardly and forwardly extending ground engaging position to engage and lift said rod into position to enter said sockets, a hand lever pivoted on one side of said chassis frame, and means operative by said lever for swinging said pick-up bars in unison into and from ground engaging position at will.

3. In combination, a moldboard snow plow including a pair of laterally spaced pusher bars eX- tending rearwardly from said moldboard and adapted to lie on the ground when said plow is not in use, a pusher truck for said plow having a chassis frame and front side wheels and adapted to be driven forwardly along said pusher bars toward said moldboard with said wheels straddling the bars of said pair, a transverse pusher rod connecting said pusher bars adjacent the rear ends thereof, and means on said chassis frame coacting with said rod during suchfor-v ward driving of said truck to pick-up and couple said rear ends of said pusher bars to opposite sides of said chassis frame in suspended position comprising a pair of hanger bracket plates depending from opposite sides of said chassis frame and having forwardly opening sockets therein, a pair of pick-up bars pivoted on said plates for swinging into downwardly and forwardly extending ground engaging position to engage and lift Asaid rod into position to enter said sockets, a hand lever pivoted on one side of said chassis frame, and means operative by said lever for swinging said pick-up bars in unison into and from ground engaging position at will including a rock shaft journaled in said plates, cranks on opposite ends of said rock shaft operatively connected to said pick-up bars, and a connection between said lever and one of said cranks.

4. In combination, a moldboard snow plow including a pair of laterally spaced pusher bars extending rearwardly from said moldboard and adapted to lie on the ground when said plow is not in use, a pusher truck for said plow having a chassis frame and front side wheels and adapted to be driven forwardly along said pusher bars toward said moldboard with said wheels straddling the bars of said pair, a transverse pusher rod-connecting said pusher bars adjacent 8 the rear ends thereof, and means on said chassis frame coating with said rod during such forward driving of said truck to pick-up and couple said rear ends of said pusher bars to opposite sides of said chassis frame in suspended position comprising a pair of hanger bracket plates depending from opposite sides of said chassis frame and having forwardly opening sockets therein, and a pair of pick-up bars pivoted on said plates for swinging into downwardly and forwardly extending ground engaging position to engage and lift said rod into position to enter said sockets, said rod when entering said sockets engaging said pick-up bars and swinging the same from ground engaging position.

FREDERICK H. GJ ESDAHL.

" References cited in the sie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,686,243 Meyer Oct. 2, 1928 1,867,186 Soule et al July 12, 1932 2,094,515 Abbe Sept. 28, 1937 2,160,702l Le Bleu May 30, 1939 2,231,875 Behnke et al Feb. 18, 1941 2,307,655 Arps Jan. 5, 1943 2,346,330 Ratcliff Apr. 11, 1944 2,365,597 Roth Dec. 19, 1944 2,401,183 Pool et al May 28, 1946 

